Rhea joins Jeff and Scott for another episode of Quid Coffe and Trees. Rhea talks  about meeting teammate Jordan Amedio during math class as part of her start to quidditch. Rhea recalls her experience being ref tested fall 2019, her experiences as a head coach for Marquette Quidditch, and the relationship she/ her team has with club teams (shout outs to Brew City (Quidditch Club team in Wisconsin/Milwaukee area). Enjoy :D.

Second part of this episode continues with Dana and Max on their experiences as trans athletes in quidditch. We talk more about bigger challenges they have faced on pitch or with in the community, things/people that have supported their involvement in quidditch, as well as advice for all of us in quidditch to be better people/teammates. We talked about steps to look to past awareness as well as some casual discussion about life off pitch. Very important discussion on over hyped breakfast items and whether or not we sleep with a top sheet. Enjoy :)

Can see this article from Max to learn more: http://www.eighthman.com/2019/11/18/supporting-your-trans-teammates/

And go to Facebook to see the work Dana is doing with GLOW: https://www.facebook.com/Great-Lakes-Organization-for-Women-and-Gender-Non-Conforming-Community-114020050292301/

In part one of this episode of Quid Coffee & Trees we sit down with Dana and Max to hear about their quidditch journeys. They also provide their perspective on being trans in the sport, their own personal journeys. Max talks about his experiences at Eastern Michigan and the challenges of leading that program as well as Dana being apart of GLOW (https://www.facebook.com/Great-Lakes-Organization-for-Women-and-Gender-Non-Conforming-Community-114020050292301 ) and the challenges they face for supporting women and gender non conforming athletes. Part two will share more on their experiences both on and off pitch! 

Adding to the depth of talent women in and around the Midwest Region we have Linnea Schultz from ISU (Illinois State) and Lily Neumann (graduated from the Hawkeyes program in Iowa) bringing us the introduction of the Central Collegiate Quidditch Conference (CCQC). Linnea and Lily share the inspiration for this conference as well as potential plans in place prior to and now adjusting to COVID-19. Linnea and Lily also share a bit about their quidditch journeys, Linneas natural abilities to lead, Lily being a co founder of Iowas quidditch program, challenges faced leading co ed teams, and what kind of ciders we prefer. Linnea and Lily hope to spark growth and excitement even in an age of covid to the teams in and around the midwest region with the birth of this conference. Can learn more about the CCQC here https://www.facebook.com/CentralCollegiateQC 

Jeff and Scott sit down with current SIUE president Colleen Kehoe as she discusses how SIUE plans to navigate a quidditch season in the age of COIVD-19. She talks about her personal growth through the sport and aspirations to create a positive image for SIUE with in the quidditch community. In her spare time off pitch she studies psychology, enjoys sushi, and makes meme art. Colleen also talks about the importance of team culture, and dedication to team goals paving the way to their repeated success for qualifying for nationals and we learn an important decision made about the if a particular chant will (or will not) be retired from SIUE brooms up routine. Colleen joins an already talented, intelligent, and awesome pool of women leading the way for quidditch in the midwest as well as adding on to the many that lead our community throughout the nation. Enjoy :)

Quidditch players have some incredible passion for the sport and Kennedy is no exception. She talks about how she wanted to play quidditch via a snapchat she saw and went so far as to inquire in her college trips if their universities had a quidditch team. She talks about playing for Lumos in Chicago, being a coach in MLQ for Indianapolis Intensity, and youth quidditch! Tune in for another episode with an awesome person on and off pitch in Kennedy Murphy :D.

Jeff and Scott sit down with Jeremy & Alex to discuss the keeper position. We talk about shared experiences at the position, skills, drills, areas to improve upon and what teams should be considering when playing this position. As always we like to get to know more about the folks off pitch so we got to hear about Jeremy's new internship in the Florida Keys and Why Alex has a profile pic with fire in the background haha. Jeremy reflected on their experience with https://www.facebook.com/brandeisquidditch and wish him the best in his post college career on and off pitch. Alex looks forward to another season with https://www.facebook.com/SalukiQuidditch and wish him and his squad the best of luck as well. From position strategies, exposure to MLQ, mental health, and finding balance in this world of covid and quidditch this episode has a lot going on; enjoy :).

Time Stamps:

2:20 how you got into the sport

7:00 Jeremy reflects on NE quidditch and expectations for future outside college; Alex shares about Saluki quidditch expectations

12:37 (roughly) both being named to honorary Indy roster this summer: http://mlquidditch.com/club/indianapolis/

18:26 Start of Keeper position discussion

40:47 (roughly) transition into mailbag questions (thank you to those that submitted questions!!)

56:43 (roughly) transition into life questions

Jeff and Scott have the privilege to sit down with first year rookie #46 chaser from Creighton College Laura Levin. Laura shares much enthusiasm and passion for the sport of quidditch the moment she stepped on the pitch in the fall of 2019. Laura talks about her experiencing placing second at MWRC Nov 2019, traveling to California, and the team first mentality. Laura also shares with us her experience as a female athlete, aspirations in the medical field and what a tater tot hotdish is :). Check out this latest episode of Quid, Coffe, & Trees. 

Joining us for this weeks episode is Mizzou chaser #2 Robbie Wallace. Robbie is going into their third year for Mizzou quidditch. Robbie shares how they joined the sport, working through adversities their team faced leading up to MWRC 2019, and what Robbie enjoys in life off pitch. Robbie talks about the importance of advertising video content of quidditch to new/unfamiliar faces, shared memories with their family, and why Mizzou carries a gong with their squad to quidditch matches. Enjoy this new episode :).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBmmoJsg1fc&t=700s (Robbie scores at 8:12 ish mark; scores again at 46min ish mark the link to the Midwest Regional Championship (MWRC) between Mizzou and Creighton from November 2019).

Another awesome episode with Jeff and Scott on Quid, Coffee, & Trees. This episode features newly elected Iowa Quidditch President Payton Kade. Payton shares with us about her quidditch experience, recent success the Iowa team had this past season at regionals, and the success of recruiting female athletes into the sport. Payton also dives into her love for Taylor Swift, balancing life as a full time student/athlete/everything else she does, and how the Iowa team will look to improve on this past season. Payton is a very passion person and leader that brings no small amounts of dedication to her role. Payton credits her teammates for the amount of work they put in at practice, and promoting the sport on campus that contributes to Iowa's recent success and we look forward to seeing Iowa continue this growth and excitement into next season.